The victory of the General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1975, which completely liberated the South, and unified the country, is a brilliant victory of our entire Army and people under the Party’s leadership; in which the army and people of the Mekong Delta made significant contributions.

The General Offensive and Uprising in  Spring 1975, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, marked the triumphant end of the resistance war against the Americans for national salvation of our army and people. Under the Party’s leadership, the army and people of the Mekong Delta consistently adhered to the revolutionary struggle guideline, the Party’s strategic ideology and military art, as well as the practical realities of the battlefield; they united, acted proactively, creatively, independently, and resiliently, concentrated the integrated strength of the people’s war, continuously launched offensives, gradually defeated and bankrupted the enemy’s tactical methods, sweeping campaigns, and pacification plans within their war strategies, thereby contributing to the nationwide victory in the resistance war against the Americans for national salvation.

Regiment 10 captured Lo Te air base on 30 April 1975 ( A file photo)

During the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising, in implementing the Central Party’s strategic determination to completely liberate the South in 1975, right from the beginning of 1975, the army and people of the Mekong Delta actively built and developed their forces in all aspects, creating the overall strength of the people’s war, deploying the posture of offensive and uprising under the motto: “communes liberate communes, districts liberate districts, provinces liberate provinces”. From March 1975, under the direction of the Regional Command and in coordination with the entire battlefield of the whole region, the army and people of the Mekong Delta concentrated on intensifying attacks against the enemy, carrying out strategic separation, cutting off and taking control of Route 4 (now National Highway 1) at the sections: Long An – My Thuan, Vinh Long – Can Tho, and completely cutting off Cho Gao Canal to prevent the enemy in the Western region from reinforcing Saigon, and to stop the enemy in Saigon from retreating strategically to the West; they launched attacks to control and eliminate Tra Noc airport, advanced to capture Can Tho city, attacked the southwestern direction of Saigon, captured the puppet Police Headquarter, and completely liberated the Southwest of the South.

In carrying out the mission of strategic separation by cutting Route 4 at the Long An – My Thuan section, Division 8 (Military Region 8) selected Trung Luong junction (the gateway to My Tho city) as the main breakthrough point to both cut off the route and be ready to capture My Tho city and the base of the enemy’s Division 7 in Dong Tam. From the night of 26 April to the morning of 27 April until 30 April, Regiment 320 continuously fought enemy ounterattacks to hold the position and completely cut off this section of the road. On Route 4 from Long Dinh to Cai Lay, the Ap Bac Battalion (My Tho city), together with 2 local companies from Cai Lay district, blocked and held back Regiment 12, Division 7 and an armoured vehicle squadron of the enemy. On Route 4 from Cai Lay to An Huu, Engineer Battalion 341 and Special Forces Battalion 283 (Military Region 8), along with district and commune armed forces, destroyed the road, cut off traffic, and held back an enemy regiment.

The armed forces of Long An and My Tho provinces, along with the local population, were mobilised to launch strong attacks along Route 4, forcing the enemy to abandon the border line, leave rural areas, and withdraw their forces to defend Route 4. On the section from Vinh Long to Can Tho, the Forward Command of Military Region 9 assigned Regiment 1 and Regiment 3 to focus on cutting off  Route 4; threatening the enemy in Can Tho city from the North, and continuously attacking to capture and gain control over many sections of the route. By 30 April, Regiment 1 and Regiment 3 concentrated their forces with 4 provincial local battalions from Vinh Long to attack and liberate Vinh Long town.

On the Cho Gao Canal, an important inland waterway route connecting the Southwest with Saigon, from 15 April, Battalion 514 and Battalion 2009 (My Tho province), together with 2 companies of the military arms, heavily damaged the Quon Long and Binh Phuc Nhat sub-regions, pushed back 9 enemy outposts in Tan Thuan Binh, destroyed 12 enemy ships, and took control of a nearly 10 km-long section. Local troops, guerrilla forces, and thousands of people in Cho Gao district participated in building obstacles, cutting off traffic, and surrounding Cho Gao town. With a proactive offensive spirit, the army and people of the Mekong Delta mobilied comprehensive strength, successfully completed the mission of strategic separating, attacking and taking control over many sections of Route 4 and Cho Gao Canal, effectively preventing enemy reinforcements from the Southwest to Saigon and stopping any strategic retreating from Saigon to the West.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits an exhibition on Me Kong Delta (Photo: tapchicongsan.org.vn)

Regarding the mission to control and eliminate Tra Noc Airport, on the night of 28 April, Regiment 20 (Division 4) crossed the Can Tho River, approached the airport’s outskirts, fought off enemy counterattacks, and used firepower—combined with 2 artillery posts from the Military Region—to control and prevent enemy aircraft from taking off and landing. By noon on 30 April, Regiment 20 swiftly captured the airport, seizing many intact aircraft along with all equipment and facilities.

Carrying out the mission of attacking and capturing Saigon from the Southwest, Military Region 8 organised an assault force consisting of Regiment 24, Regiment 88, and 2 local battalions (Long An province), advancing through Eastern Long An toward Nha Be, District 8. With the highest determination, our forces marched while engaging the enemy, carrying out military and mass mobilisation work. After 16 consecutive days and nights of marching, by 25 April, this force had eliminated 40 enemy outposts, liberated 20 communes, and reached the Binh Chanh area (outskirts of Saigon). At 10:30 a.m. on 30 April, Regiment 24 captured its main target— the puppet Police Headquarter; Regiment 88 and the 2 local battalions (Long An province) captured the Tan Thuan warehouse, the main petroleum depot, and Nha Be port, successfully completing the mission of attacking Saigon from the Southwest direction.

In executing the plan for the general offensive and uprising, and promoting the spirit of initiative, localities in the Mekong Delta concentrated their forces, approaching key targets, especially urban areas where enemy troops were heavily concentrated, ready to launch a general attack. On the night of 28 April and the early morning of 29 April, armed forces of the Military Region, provinces, and districts simultaneously launched attacks on urban centres; together with the uprising movement of the masses in various forms, contributing to the rapid collapse of the enemy’s grassroots administration system.

The first locality in the Mekong Delta to be liberated was Tra Vinh province, through a combination of military offensive and mass uprisings. From 5:00 a.m. on 30 April, the provincial armed forces (including 5 infantry battalions, 2 special forces companies, and 1 support company) attacked and captured multiple targets within the town. By 9:00 a.m., the uprising forces, with around 20,000 people participating, took to the streets, attacked and surrounded the enemy forces, disarmed security battalions, and captured villains. At exactly 11:30 a.m. on 30 April, the flag of the National Liberation Front flew on the roof of the Vinh Binh provincial governor’s palace.

Bac Lieu Town (Bac Lieu Province) was liberated mainly through political forces and military movement. From 28 April, a part of the armed forces and uprising command cadres entered the town to guide the masses in persuading enemy units at the grassroots level. At the same time, they established communication with the Bac Lieu provincial governor, demanding the transfer of power to the revolutionary forces. On the morning of 30 April, a large number of the masses gathered at the provincial governor’s palace, compelling the Bac Lieu governor to declare surrender and hand over authority to the revolution.

In My Tho City (a strategic key target of Military Region 8), the City Special Forces and secret bases mobilised the masses to rise up; the main forces of the Military Region, along with the provincial troops, launched continuous attacks on stubborn enemy targets. By 5:00 a.m. on May 1, My Tho City was completely liberated.

In Can Tho City (the primary key target of Military Region 9), where the enemy’s 4th Corps Headquarters was located, from the night of 29 April, Military Region 9 concentrated its main forces and coordinated with people uprising to launch continuous attacks. When Duong Van Minh announced his surrender, the City Uprising Command quickly and decisively captured the opportunity to issue the order for a general uprising. Party cells within the city mobilised the masses to take control of government institutions, closely coordinating with the main forces of the Military Region and local armed forces to launch a fierce offensive, capturing almost all enemy positions within the city.

In Vinh Long Town (the second key target of Military Zone 9), on the afternoon of 30 April, our forces captured key positions within the town centre and called upon the provincial governor and the commander of the enemy’s Regiment 16 (Division 9) to surrender. The Town Party Committee led the people in the city to rise up, attack enemy posts and dismantle civil defence structures. By 11:00 p.m. of the same day, our forces had taken over and gained full control of the town.

With a proactive spirit, upon receiving news of Duong Van Minh’s surrender, the Phu Quoc District Party Committee and District Military Command promptly mobilised local forces to attack enemy outposts. With the combined strength of people’s war and their own forces, Phu Quoc island district (Kien Giang Province) liberated itself at 8:00 p.m. on 30 April.

In Con Dao, after Duong Van Minh declared surrender, enemy forces fell into chaos; the political prisoners, under the leadership of revolutionary cadres, quickly broke through the prison cells, smashed through walls, and took control of Con Dao. By the night of May 2, the island’s radio station had established contact with the mainland, confirming that Con Dao was completely liberated.

Thus, during the General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1975, with the combined strength of the people’s war and a spirit of initiative and creativity, from 26 April 1975, most provinces in the Mekong Delta simultaneously launched offensives and uprisings against the enemy across all fronts, completely liberating their localities on 30 April 30 and 1 May 1975.

In Long Chau Tien Province (which included several districts of Dong Thap and An Giang provinces today), the sector commanders of Sa Dec and Chau Doc, along with some puppet officers, gathered over 10,000 militia troops at To Dinh (Hoa Hao Commune, Phu Tan District) and declared their intention to hold out to the end. On 1 and 2 of May, they issued announcements to Hoa Hao followers and soldiers, demanding the establishment of an autonomous Hoa Hao religious zone in Long Xuyen and Chau Doc, later demanding the establishment of an autonomous region in Tan Phu district. On the night of 2 May, revolutionary forces mobilised Hoa Hao followers to rise up, while armed units encircled and were ready to eliminate the remaining security battalions, supporting the followers in their struggle against the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee. Thanks to the revolutionary forces’ sharp arguments and resolute attitude, the enemy was forced to issue Announcement No. 6, calling on soldiers to lay down their weapons and report to the revolutionary side. By 7:00 a.m. on 3 May, our forces entered To Dinh and received the weapons surrender of over 8,000 militia troops. However, remnants of the enemy forces regrouped in Cho Moi, concentrating at Tay An Pagoda, which they regarded as their final holdout. The Sa Dec authorities deployed forces and mobilised the people to surround and attack, ultimately dispersing the remaining enemy units. On 6 May 1975, the liberation flag flew over Tay An Pagoda, marking the complete liberation of the last area in the Mekong Delta.

With creative military arts, based on promoting the combined strength of the people’s war and leveraging the general strategic posture of the entire Southern battlefield, the armed forces and people of the Mekong Delta brilliantly fulfilled their assigned missions, making a worthy contribution to the glorious victory of our Party, people, and army.

After the Great Victory of Spring 1975, while local Party committees, authorities, and people in the region focused on rebuilding and developing the socio - economy, improving people’s livelihoods, the reactionary and genocidal Pol Pot – Ieng Sary group provoked, invaded a number of areas, massacred and destroyed the peaceful life of people in the Southwest region. Promoting the heroic spirit of the General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1975, the armed forces of Military Region 9 rose to fight for the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. At the same time, they closely coordinated with the revolutionary armed forces of Cambodia and other Vietnamese volunteer groups to fulfill their noble international duty, achieving glorious victories, reviving the Cambodian people and country from the disaster of genocide. This monumental contribution further enriched the proud tradition of the armed forces of Military Region 9, and helped the image of the “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” and “Buddhist soldiers” shine ever more brightly, deeply engraved in the hearts of the Cambodian people and peace-loving friends around the world.

In the current period, taking pride in the glorious tradition, officers and soldiers of the armed forces of Military Region 9 are deeply aware of their responsibility to continue to inherit and promote this tradition to new heights. The focus is to continue to strictly implement the Resolution of the 4th Plenary Session (13th tenure) on enhancing the building and rectification of Party and the political system, associated with promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and lifestyle; and Resolution No. 847-NQ/QUTW, dated 28 December 2021, issued by the Central Military Commission on promoting the qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” and resolutely combating individualism in the new situation. This aims to bring about profound and steady transformations in the leadership capacity and combat strength of Party committees and organisations, thereby meeting the demands of assigned missions.

Military Region 9 also thoroughly grasps and synchronously, effectively implements the Party’s viewpoints, guidelines, and strategies on military affairs, national defence, and Fatherland protection, with a particular emphasis on Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW, dated 24 November 2023, by the Central Executive Committee (13th tenure), regarding the Strategy for National defence in the new situation. Continuously enhance the leadership, management, and operational capabilities of organisations in fulfilling military and defence tasks. Coordinate with local Party committees and authorities to participate in general socio-economic development planning, closely linked with the construction of combat bases and rear bases at all levels, in line with operational determinations and the military posture planning within the defence areas.

Focus on building the armed forces of Military Region 9 to be elite, compact, strong, modern, with comprehensive qualities and strong combat capabilities, always maintaining strategic initiative and being fully capable of handling all situations. Actively innovate training, education, building military discipline, and strictly complying with laws, discipline, ensuring safety. Proactively and closely coordinate with local Party committees, authorities, and other units in the areas in building a strong all people national defence posture, closely linked with the people’s security posture and a solid “people’s heart and mind posture”, contributing to maintaining political stability and creating favourable conditions for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development in the region.

Strengthens military foreign affairs activities, maintains stability along the land border and in the Southwestern sea and island areas, and continues fostering solidarity and friendship with the Cambodian people and army, contributing to preserving a peaceful and stable environment, firmly protecting the Fatherland under all circumstances.

Major General HO VAN THAI, Political Commissar of Military Region 9